History of Salk

Salk Institute for Biological Studies -
History of Salk

Salk Institute

In 1957, Jonas Salk, developer of the first safe and effective polio vaccine, began his quest to fulfill his second dream: create a collaborative environment where researchers could explore the basic principles of life and contemplate the wider implications of their discoveries for the future of humanity.

Gifted with 27 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean by the City of San Diego in 1960, Salk partnered with architect Louis Kahn to design such a research center. He summarized his aesthetic objectives by telling Kahn to “create a facility worthy of a visit by Picasso.”

With financial support from the National Foundation/March of Dimes, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies opened its doors in 1963. In addition to Salk, the first Resident Fellows were Jacob Bronowski, Melvin Cohn, Renato Dulbecco, Edwin Lennox and Leslie Orgel. The Nonresident Fellows were Leo Szilard, Francis Crick, Salvador Luria, Jacques Monod and Warren Weaver.

The Institute is supported by research grants from the National Institutes of Health, private foundations and individuals who value scientific trailblazing. The March of Dimes, which has backed the Institute since its inception, continues to contribute financially every year.

As its first director, Salk said of his eponymous institute: “The Salk Institute is a curious place, not easily understood, and the reason for it is that this is a place in the process of creation. It is being created and is engaged in studies of creation. We cannot be certain what will happen here, but we can be certain it will contribute to the welfare and understanding of man.”

Historical Milestones

1959

Jonas Salk visits San Diego.

1960

San Diego Mayor Charles Dail, a polio survivor, lobbies Salk to build his dream institute locally. In June, in a special referendum, voters overwhelmingly approve giving Salk 27 acres on a La Jolla mesa, just west of the proposed site for the new University of California, San Diego. With funding from the National Foundation/March of Dimes, Salk selects architect Louis Kahn to collaborate on design.

1960

Salk becomes first Institute president on December 28. He serves until March 7, 1962.

1962

Groundbreaking takes place in June. Concrete is poured in December.

1963

First labs are set up in temporary buildings. The first Resident Fellows are chosen: Salk, Jacob Bronowski, Melvin Cohn, Renato Dulbecco, Edwin Lennox and Leslie Orgel. The first Nonresident Fellows are Leo Szilard, Francis Crick, Salvador Luria, Jacques Monod, and Warren Weaver. Salk again serves as president, from September 29 to June 16, 1965.

1966

Researchers move into labs in the new north building.

1967

Institute construction is complete.

1968

Renato Dulbecco publishes discovery that viruses cause cancer by inserting their genes into the chromosomes of infected cells. He is awarded a Nobel Prize for this research in 1975.

1972

Jim Patrick and Jon Lindstrom purify an acetylcholine receptor, a molecule that triggers muscle contraction in response to a nerve signal. This leads to the discovery of the cause of the paralyzing disease myasthenia gravis.

1973

Roger Guillemin and colleagues discover somatostatin, a brain hormone that blocks the release of growth hormone. It is now used to treat peptic ulcers.

1974

Robert Holley discovers that serum contains factors that control cell division.

1977

Roger Guillemin, Floyd Bloom and colleagues characterize endorphins.

1977

Roger Guillemin receives Nobel Prize for his work on neurohormones.

1979

Tony Hunter and Bart Sefton discover tyrosine phosphorylation, a new type of protein modification. In the ensuing three decades, research leads to the development of tyrosine kinase inhibitors that provide a new approach to cancer treatment.

1983

1984

Ursula Bellugi’s work leads to discovery that the left hemisphere of the brain becomes specialized for languages, whether spoken or signed.

1985

Ronald Evans and his lab clone and characterize the first nuclear hormone receptor, the human glucocorticoid receptor, and subsequently establish the unexpected existence of a nuclear receptor superfamily. This work leads to the principles of DNA recognition, receptor heterodimer formation and the discovery of the DNA code for hormone response.

1985

Roger Guillemin and colleagues discover the structure of fibroblast growth factor, a substance that affects blood vessel growth, among other functions.

1987

Researchers in the labs of Guillemin and Vale purify and characterize the reproductive hormone inhibin, leading to the discovery of activins, related molecules that have many roles outside the reproductive system.

1987

Wylie Vale and colleagues discover link between the immune system and the brain.

1987

Chris Lamb and colleagues show that different plant defense genes activate by various forms of stress.

1988

Marc Montminy and colleagues show how chemical changes induced by hormonal signals can alter gene activity.

1989

1989

Stephen Heinemann and colleagues clone first gene for a glutamate receptor, a molecule thought to be involved in memory formation.

Late 1980s

Jonas Salk begins work on developing a vaccine for AIDS.

1990

Pamela Mellon develops transgenic mice with a heritable cancer having features identical to human retinoblastoma. She also discovers a technique to immortalize nerve cells in the brain for study in test tubes.

1990

Jonas Salk receives first Presidential Commemorative Award of the American Institute of Architects, Los Angeles chapter.

1991

Wylie Vale and colleagues isolate a gene encoding CRF-binding protein that protects the body against a flood of corticotropin-releasing hormone produced by the placenta.

1991

Salk Institute declared an historic landmark.

1995

Jonas Salk dies June 23 at age 80.

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